How to best fix kitchen sink plumbing?

I have a kitchen sink with one faucet, two drains, a garbage disposal and a dishwasher. My problem area is the drains. If one isn’t leaking then the other one is. The drains are plumbed in PVC- mated to the metal drains in the sink basins and then to the metal drains that go to the sewer. It seems like the pvc is loose so when people remove the dishwasher detergent or the fire extinguisher or sponges from underneath, they bump the pipes and then I have to lie in a puddle for half an hour while I fix the pipes. The drain on the right is pvc, and screwed directly to the bottom of the sink (The tailpiece is PVC) and goes to an all-PVC s-trap, then to the metal pipe to the sewer- pretty sure it is steel pipe. The sink on the left drains into the garbage disposal which goes to what looks like a PVC P-trap which is attached to another steel pipe to the sewer. I need to replace the drain pipes anyway- do a I try to do the whole thing over in iron or steel, or do I just replace the PVC with new PVC, and what is the best way to make it robust and at least fairly bump-proof? I can’t remove everything from under the sink- no other space to store these items. Any ideas?

 

Sounds like there is nothing wrong with the way it is set up... Slip joint fittings are used all the time, but yours may be worn from being loosened and tightened all the time.

I don't know why anything would get loose from being bumped, unless it wasn't tight enough in the first place, or is worn out. Unless maybe you have a fitting that is barely long enough to connect and it's pulling out when you bump it. Is that what's happening?

You could replace it all with brand new fittings... but be sure you get them tight or you will have the same problem again.

 

"X" is correct. I would like to add the fact that sink drain lines need to be plumb almost perfect. More so under kitchen sinks just because they seem to get bumped more often than usual. Usually hand tight is good enough but I would use a wrench and add about and eighth of a turn. I would also go with all PVC or plastic. If you don't then at least replace all the slip joint gaskets.

And as much as you say that you have no place to put all the stuff, I'm sure you don't need all that stuff. I have this running battle with the wife about all the junk under the kitchen sink all the time.

 

I’ve been on the fence about whether to redo the whole thing with steel pipes... all the connections underneath are incredibly tenuous. The house is 300 years old and the last guy did his own plumbing but seemed to employ every cost- saving measure known- rather than properly securing the drain, in another sink, he wedged a brick under the trap where the washing machine empties into a utility sink on poorly-attached legs... which stands on a wooden platform so the washing machine shakes, and the brick dislodges... and the water flows into the riverbed in the basement! So I am tackling these projects one at a time. But for now this kitchen sink is the most pressing issue because the drain is leaking into the floor... which is one of those styrofoam floors with a vinyl overlay... which is peeling because of the moisture! I love old houses, but this has some issues that clearly need to be fixed!

 

Did you ever see the movie, The Money Pit? Good luck on your remodeling.

 

wife asked when I would have this done... I told her “Two weeks!”

 

In a rental, I built a little 1x4 'cage' for the plumbing pipes. Had a similar issue where they kept getting bumped.
I agree with the others that just replacing the PVC is probably your best bet. You can switch over to steel slip fittings, but I usually find them pretty expensive, and they can still loosen.

Last solution would be to change over to cemented PVC trap. I find these a pain since when there is a clog or issue, you need to cut them out... but it's a possibility as well.